MARSH MARIGOLD 
     
    
   
   
    
     (Caltha palustris) 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     by R. Bruce MacLaren, Charlottetown 
     
    
   
   
    
     How this lovely spring wildflower came by the 
     
     name Marigold I’ll never know, because it isn’t even 
     
     related. sometimes, particularly many years ago, this 
     
     plant was called Cowslip. This name too is far from correct. Actually, a more 
     
     correct name would be Marsh Buttercup because it does belong to the same plant 
     
     family as the buttercup andL except that the leaves are different and the 
     
     flowers larger, it looks like a buttercup. . 
     
    

    
     What is unusual about this plant? For one thing it is common throughout 
     
     P.E.I. It is fbund also in Cape Breton Island and New Brunswick, but does not 
     
     occur on the mainland of Nova Sbotia. Another unusual feature is that, if 
     
     eaten raw, the leaves are likely to be somewhat poisonous. If; hgwever, the 
     
     leaves are boiled in about two changes of water, they make an excellent green 
     
     vegetable. I've tried them myself and they’re really good. The unopened buds 
     
     can be pickled to make a condiment similar to capers. I don’t like capers so 
     
     I've never tried using the buds. 
     
    

    
     There are many possible medicinal uses fer Marsh Marigold. For example, the 
     
     juice is supposed to be a cure fer unrts. A drop or two of juice from a leaf 
     
     or stem is squeezed onto the wart every day until the hurt disappears. Since 
     
     the wart would likely disappear in time anyway it’s hard to say whether or not 
     
     the Marigold juice helped! ~ 
     
    
   
   
    
     f_R_OM THE EDITOR 
     
    
   
   
    
     Once again we have reached the season when the winter meeting series has 
     
     ended and society members go their separate ways for the summer. At this time it 
     
     is appropriate to look back on our accomplishments of the year. The past twelve 
     
     months have been a busy and productive time in the life of the society. 
     
    

    
     Field outings have been held to places like Tyne Valley, Cape Tryon, Valley- 
     
     field and Sharam Point. Mbnthly meetings featured speakers on such varied topics 
     
     as the Mbrell River, Governor’s Island, the bears of P.E.I., P.E.I.’s beauty 
     
     spots, Newfeundland's Baccalieu Island, Arctic wildlife, and wasps and hornets. 
     
     Three Christmas bird counts, a Birdathon and seabird watches from the ferries 
     
     were organized. A nature slide contest was sponsored and prizes awarded fbr 
     
     nature entries at the U.P.E.I. science Fair. The society was involved in spon— 
     
     soring a workshop on nature photography and an exhibition of Island nature 
     
     photographs. In October we hosted the annual regional meeting of the Cbnadian 
     
     Nature Federation. 
     
    

    
     However, perhaps our most important endeavours have come in the field of 
     
     educational outreach.to the eastern and western parts of the province. Sbciety 
     
     members were involved in presenting a series of nature lectures at the Eptek center 
     
     in Summerside last fall and at the Montague Community school this winter. 
     
    

    
     The president, the executive, and our many active members are to be congrat— 
     
     ulated and thanked fbr their initiative in making this past year so successful. 
     
     As well, I say a very warm thank—you to all who have been such cooperative 
     
     contributors to the newsletter over the past five years. Since this is my last 
     
     issue as editor, I also wish my successors the very best in the future. (Con- 
     
     tributions for the fall issue may be sent to the society’s box number, given 
     
     inside the front cover.) Happy summer to you all!